The Arnolfini Wedding, 1434, by Jan van Eyck
----------------- Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Puzzle by Nancy Salomon and Larry Shearer, edited by Will Shortz
Three long entries are the main feature of this crossword appearing on this Veterans’ Day (off topic) -- one down: HEADING DUE SOUTH (7. Going straight to Antarctica, say), and two diagonally, SLIP SLIDING AWAY (1. Disappearing), RUNNING DOWN HILL (12. Proceeding with little effort). Working the puzzle on the internet, I did not notice the instruction to “See Notepad”, so had no idea there were two diagonal entries until I printed the puzzle for commentary. I am assuming that the dead-tree copy will have a Diagonal category in addition to Across and Down -- which will give the solver a little more to dwell upon. That said, all three 15-letter entries meet in the center where they are united by the letter D.
HONEYMOON (10D. Bliss before the hard part begins) and WINDYCITY (35D. Chicago, with “the”) are the remaining long entries, followed by the six-letter AGLEAM (53A. Shining); ANDHOW (46A. “You said a mouthful!”); CHEAPO (58A. Low-cost, in slang); DIONNE (22A. 1930s quints name); NASSER (49D. Sadat’s predecessor); NETMAN (31A. Tennis player); ODESSA (24A. Potemkin mutiny city); SEARLE (60A. Company that introduced NutraSweet); SPINAL (5D. Backbone-related); 20A. TINPAN Alley.
Five-letter entries -- ADAGE (42D. “Time is money,” for one); ALOAD (56D. Heaps); ALONE (34D. Unaccompanied); ANTES (28D. Poker amounts); AROSE (42A. Sprang up); ASKED (21D. Inquired); CORNY (18D. Unsophisticated); DUNES (45A. Sand formations); ERWIN (55D. Field Marshal Rommel); HAWSE (33A. Part of a ship’s bow); HITAT (33D. Try to strike); ILIAD (40A. Old war story); ISAAC (127A. Almost-sacrificed son in the Bible)
; 54D. LATKA Gravas, role on “Taxi”; MASSE (27D. Pool stroke); MESSY (57D. Complicated, as a divorce); 52D. OPTIC nerve; PLAID (2D. Highland pattern); REINE (3D. Wife of un roi); SAWTO (1D. Took care of); STAIN (8D. Result of an ink spill); STUNS (63A. Gobsmacks); YELPS (4D. Kennel cries); YWCAS (44D. Certain rec centers).
Three- and four-letter -- ALA, ALEE, ALTO, ANDY, CHAR, COS, ETNA, GAIT, HMOS, HOST, IGGY, ITBE, INRI, INTO, KIAS, KLMN, MAIM, MAL, MIRO, NBA, NCOS, NIE, ONE, OUT, POET, RDA, RKO, SASH, SCHS, SPRY, TEY, THOR, THRU, TONS, TWOS, WAIL, WOUK, YOUI, and YMA (26A. Late singer Sumac).
With the entries of heading due south, slip-sliding away, running down hill, honeymoon and messy given the definitions of bliss before the hard part begins and complicated, as a divorce, the entry of ALONE (34D. Unaccompanied) seems quite apropos!
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Xword search information -- 1. Agile for one’s age; 5. Athletic conference members: Abbr.; 9. Heyerdahl who wrote “Kon-Tiki”; 13. Opposite of windward; 14. Sonneteer, e.g.; 15. Herman who wrote “The Caine Mutiny”; 16. Siren’s sound; 19. Crazy about; 25. Crucifix inscription; 29. OP’s forerunners; 37. Pop’s ___ Pop; 39. Central computer; 41. Food stat; 43. Heaps; 44. Fats Domino’s “It’s ___ Love; 50. Mystery writer Josephine; 51. Sgts. And cpls.; 61. Injure; 65. Terrible ___; 66. Choir voice; 67. The Everly Brothers’ “Let ___ Me”; 68. Cars from Korea; 69. Places; 70. Blacken; 71. Artist Warhol. Down: 6. Fortune 500 listings: Abbr.; 9. Romulus or Remus; 11. Tagged on a diamond; 12. “Citizen Kane” studio; 30. Spanish Surrealist; 32. Like some streets; 36. “Miss Universe” holder; 38. Walk or trot; 47. Air Force ___; 59. Dr. providers; 61. Prefix with practice; 62. Pie ___ mode; 64. Org. for Raptors and Hawks.
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